Chapter 14 – Second Chance Love of the Missing Groom Novel

“Well, how did you manage to offend him? Was it Whitney Cox?” Zachary asked, since he could not think of any other reason.

He, like others, was unaware of Abigail and Diarmuid‘s marriage. They never held a wedding, and since there was no publicity and Diarmuid did not acknowledge it anyway, only a select few knew.

Abigail, knowing that Diarmuid would divorce her eventually anyway, did not tell Zachary either–which was why Whitney was the only connection between Diarmuid and Abigail that Zachary could think of.

Before she could respond, he continued, “To be fair to him, it‘s the first time I‘ve seen him get so obsessed with a woman… But he‘s still a blind fool – why Whitney Cox, of all people?”

It did not matter to Abigail who Diarmuid fell for, as it was strictly a case of to each their own.

Who knows? Whitney might really be Diarmuid‘s type.

Still, Zachary‘s outburst confirmed Abigail‘s theory that he and Diarmuid were friends, so she asked gingerly, “The patient you asked me to treat in your stead… That‘s Diarmuid Althoff, right?”

She had that hunch when she recognized Stan as Diarmuid‘s assistant, so she simply asked to confirm it.

“Yeah, but don‘t tell anyone,” Zachary told her, having faith that she would not do so–or he would not have allowed her to sub in for him.

Then, after some thought, he said, “I‘ll talk to him in your stead.”

Abigail wanted to stop him right then and clarify what was going on between her and Diarmuid, but she failed to put together the right words.

All she ended up saying was, “Thank you.”

“Oh, don‘t get all mushy on me.” Zachary laughed. “Also … weren‘t you offering to treat me to a meal last time?”

Abigail smiled. “Of course.”

At the Light Group offices, Diarmuid had just finished a meeting and returned to his office when Stan approached him.

“Sir, I just spotted Ms. Bernstein having lunch with Dr. Slate.”

“What?” Diarmuid wheeled on him, surprise clearly showing in his eyes. “She‘s acquainted with Zachary?”

Truth be told, Stan was not sure.

He had been puzzled and shocked himself to see Abigail and Zachary holding a cheerful conversation over lunch he would never have known if he had not coincidentally passed by that restaurant either. “Should we call Dr. Slate and ask?” he suggested.

“Yeah,” Diarmuid flatly replied, and Stan quickly left to make the call.

Zachary arrived after around twenty minutes, and the instant he stepped into Diarmuid‘s office, he said, “Perfect timing. I was just going to-”

LUL

“You know Abigail Bernstein?” Diarmuid asked.

Interjected before he could finish, Zachary was taken aback, but he soon nodded. “I do–she‘s my junior, and she‘s the one who treated your injury that time.”

Diarmuid leaned back on his brown leather couch , his long and bushy eyelashes twitching above his jet – black gaze.

That was her?

It was actually surprising.

“Right, so…” Zachary continued as he entered and took a seat. “Can‘t you be nicer to her, Diarmuid?”

Diarmuid raised a brow and loafed even more casually just then, but those who knew him understood that the more casual he was, the more pensive he actually was.

Zachary was actually close to Abigail?

Somehow, he felt upset–and he actually had no idea why he felt that way.

“Are you siding with her?” he asked quietly. “What is she to you?”

“She‘s my junior, duh. We graduated from the same teaching hospital, although she‘s two semesters my junior. Word is that her father has a mistress and is cold toward her and her mother, and she had to work part time jobs during university to pay her tuition fees. A tragic case on all counts,” Zachary said, earnestly defending Abigail, telling her life story as well so that Diarmuid would spare her, or at least let her keep her job.

Not sparing his strength, Zahcary continued, “That’s why I tried to help her when I could, so we‘re good friends. Come on, Diarmuid – she needs her job to pay her mother‘s medical bills. Can‘t you just let her off this once? She‘s really going to suffer without her job.”

Diarmuid remained impassive, but his heart was actually stirring

Her case did sound tragic … though that was not reason enough to forgive her. He appeared even more relaxed then, and said thoughtfully, “I don‘t mind forgiving her if she comes to me on her own, and begs.”

Zachary could tell right then that Diarmuid was still upset with Abigail, and knew that Abigail never liked to bother others, so he explained, “She wouldn‘t have come to me if she weren‘t desperate.”

Diarmuid snorted coldly. Desperate?

If she was desperate, why did she refuse to come to him?

That just meant she was not desperate enough! “Diarmuid…”

Zachary tried to say more for Abigail‘s sake, but Diarmuid refused to listen. “Like I said, tell her to come to me.”

He clearly sounded impatient, and Zachary knew that it was futile to go on now. “Just don‘t push her too far–she did help you before, remember that.”

Diarmuid shot him a cool glare then. “Do you like her?”

Are they that close that he would go so far for her?

Hell, could he be the man she slept with?

“Well, I do… but it‘s more admiration, to be honest,” Zachary quickly explained. “She‘s quite likable, and although there were many boys who liked her and tried to woo her back at university, she rejected all of them. That‘s a proper maiden of integrity for you, and I think I‘d fall for her if I weren‘t spoken for… Haha!”

Diarmuid shot him a look of contempt, and thought to himself that he must be blind.

Howwas she proper? What about her integrity? Would a proper maiden sleep with another man on her wedding night, and make him a cuckold? While Diarmuid glowered at those thoughts, Zachary did not notice what was happening with him. He felt weary inwardly, but there was nothing else he could do here.

Stepping out of the building, he called Abigail outside the entrance.

After leaving the restaurant, Abigail returned to her hospital to visit her mother when she received Zachary‘s call.

He apologized for failing to persuade Diarmuid, but Abigail knew about Diarmuid‘s bad temper anyway, and said, “It‘s fine. You don‘t have to worry about that.”

Hanging up, she composed herself as she headed inside her mother‘s ward.

The instant she got in, a nurse saw her and told her,” Your mother is awake.”

“Really?” she exclaimed in excitement.

“Of course, I was just about to call you,” the nurse replied, “You should go check on her.” “Thank you.”

Her mother had been moved to a normal ward. When she entered to find her mother‘s eyes wide open, she was left hesitating for a moment before striding toward her.

“Mom…”

Sheryl Harris feebly tried to reach for her. “Oh, Abigail…” Abigail quickly took her hand, it was a great relief to her.

“I‘m so sorry…”

Sheryl was aware of how critical her condition was, and that her daughter must have agreed to Lionel Bernstein‘s demands that she marry into the Althoff family–there was no way she could afford her surgery otherwise.

Her eyes welling with tears, she murmured, “I shouldn‘t have let you suffer. I‘m better off dead…”

“Come on, Mommy.” Abigail squeezed her hand. “I wouldn’t be here without you.”

If her mother did not have labor complications that damaged her health and made her infertile, Lionel would never have abhorred her and found herself a mistress. “How are you? Are the Althoffs being nice to you?” Sheryl asked Abigail tentatively then she was worried that marrying rich would leave Abigail belittled.

Abigail put up a smile and tried to make light of it, assuring her, “I‘m fine. Mr. Henry… and Diarmuid are nice to me, so don‘t worry. Right now, you should focus on getting better.”

“Yeah,” Sheryl murmured, appearing tired already.

She still needed rest at the moment, so Abigail kept her company, and only left after she fell asleep.

Outside, it was already dark.

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